international animal rights day

On this day which is International Animal Rights Day, we should all remember that all sentient beings ought to be treated with respect, kindness and compassion. Other animals other than humans is not put on this earth to be treated as consumables or wear and tear items.

I treated a pug named Malte to some extra TLC today.

What kind deed did you do for an animal today?

supersized red scarf

a couple of years ago i saw a supersized red wool scarf in a magazine, knitted in different patterns and i fell in immediate lust for a supersized red scarf.

the price for said (non handmade) scarf was a bit hefty, to say the least, so i felt it was a good idea to get bright red yarn and make my own similar scarf to bright and warm up winter days and outfits.

this is how far i've come on project supersized red scarf (with sploshes of magenta/bright pink, to lighten things up a bit more) really enjoy using different techniques and patterns like this, a great way to create a personal oddbird look. 

i think it needs to be at least twice as long before it can be considered a finished project. but as it's a rather quick work and great to have in front of the telly i definitely see it finished before the end of the year ie no longer than three weeks from now.

it will be lovely to sport a supersized red, woolly scarf i'm sure!

two christmas fairs

This weekend we popped by two Christmas fairs - yes, even for someone who does not appreciate the commercial, over-eating hullabaloo that is Christmas the sweet things and handmade goods offered at fairs can be a treat for eyes and mind, although wallet is rarely opened anymore.

I remember the lovely Christmas fair and the days we had in Budapest this time of the year last year fondly, but as mentioned the other day I'm perfectly happy to be here and now in my life right now. So Stockholm fairs it is this year.



Saturday one was at Vinterviken (Winter Bay) which has a darling allotment garden and café well worth a visit during the summers. The Vinterviken area is situated in the Stockholm south suburbs, about 15 minutes train ride from the inner city. So after the perfect weekend breakfast we headed there. It was a small kind of (af)fair but rather nice, one of the stall holders is a friend of mine. Many lovely handcrafted things and nothing massproduced and nasty as far as the eyes could see.





Nasty weather though, very icy streets, freezing winds with a touch of snowfall and grey skies, not the most inviting of days. But a decent fika in a nearby warm cafe can make wonders for a frozen spirit and body.







On Sunday it was time for a visit at the annual fair in Sigtuna and we begun the morning with a nice breakfast at sweet Tant Brun (Auntie Brown) cafe (which opens one hour before the fair som it really is perfect in every way).





Unfortunately the weather was absolutely freezing and the streets were jampacked already when the fair opened, thus our visit were brief. But I did find some really lovely and inspirational things to get before we left. Which will be perfect in a little post of their own another day.





How about you, do you enjoy Christmas fairs? If so, why?
And do you have a favourite one you return to every year?
Do you buy anything or do you just soak in the atmosphere?

the shapeless sweater and the perfect accessory

This is how an unflattering shaped sweater becomes wearable. The perfect accessory is of course a cat. Granted a strangely reluctant model - which got me in a fit of nearly-pee-in-my-pants-laughter when I tried to get her to calm down and pose. Like mother like daughter - but hey, we kind of made it.

Unfortunately the perfect accessory is a can't-bring-everywhere-all-the-time kind of accessory so the overall wearability of said sweater is questionable. Still thinking of turning it into a cardigan. Cardigans can be cool and wearable even if shapeless, sweaters are not, unless you're flat-chested.



I am, however, very pleased that I finished the project within a very reasonable time. Perhaps I will continue and make something wearable (that is not a scarf, shawl, hat, cap, socks, mittens and such) some day soon. Something less shapeless, with more oomf.



Behold the face of misery, named Zigne. Aka the cat with the perfect when-will-this-be-over-look. I'm sorry, li'l darlin', it will never really be over since living in this residence it is one of your tasks to perform on a regular basis, the posing and being the perfect photo prop. But I'm sure you would agree, by comparison, that in other aspects it is in fact an awesome residence to be a cat in.

mandela 1918 - 2013

Of course I was sad to hear about this great man's passing, but he had lived such a long life, accomplished so many great things most of us will never come close to accomplish, touched so many lives, inspired so many people all over the world, his forever rest was well-deserved.

Nelson Mandela was one of very few politicians and public figures I really admired. Such a sad few of us are able to show such immense insight, thoughfullness, kindness and compassion. Every day I'm amazed that so many turn a blind eye to what their daily deeds and choices causes in terms of harm and pain to others. That so few seem interested and willing to become a better earth being, to leave a reasonable and kind footprint, to cause as little harm as possible and to show kindness in life.



My visit to Robben Island remains one of the most powerful, heartbreaking, world turning experiences I've been through. The way the guide enthusiastically talked about how much Sweden had done in the struggle against apartheid is still one of my proudest moment as a swede.

- It was different times then, we had politicians with visions and passions, who fought good fights too. These days we have not, or at least they are far and few apart, and I am most often ashamed of our society and its politicians. Which I am certain isn't anything particulary Swedish, I believe all too many people are jaded and ashamed of how "our" politicians act and how the world look today. -

During those hours the human madness and cruelty was so near, tangible and visible. And yet, obviously there is hope and ways to overcome things seemingly impossible, change for the better is always possible. If we dare to speak up against injustice, dare to lead by example, dare to lead the way for a better, more compassionate future.

Thank you for being who you were, Nelson Mandela,
may your spirit and inspiration live on and flourish ~

first snow 2013

First snow has arrived in Stockholm (and there's talk about more coming, in a storm called Sven I think). Neither I nor bobbaloos are impressed.

Once upon a time I thought a proper winter should hold lots of snow. And even if I still think it's very pretty and light up the dark winter days it also means ice and slippery streets and if there's something I absolutely hate hate hate it is ice and slippery roads/streets.

Chaos in public transportation just keeps getting worse every year when snow falls, because apparently trains, buses and rails these days can't handle snow, cold and ice.

And I sure appreciate a kinder kind of monthly electrical bill. Snow does not bring that.

So no, we are not amused by snow.

the let them eat cake vegan cake 2013 edition

Yes it's been 4,5 years since I first made the let them eat cake-cake from one of my favourite books "PopCo" - it turned out really pretty and lovely in texture, but the orange flower water turned the cake into an after shave-cake. It was not a pleasant eating experience.

Apparently it took all those years before I could get myself baking it again. This time omitting the nastiness of orange flower water of course.



I decided to make two cakes at once, but I think I chose slightly too large cake tins as the cakes turned out to be thinner than last time. I would have loved to go crazy with the garnish, but with the eating in season there isn't a lot of seasonal fruit available here during winters alas.

The heart cake I simply garnished with frozen thawed raspberries. And the round I soaked in punsch liqueur and garnished with kiwi and physalis. Both were served with whipped soy cream.



Both turned out really nice, albeit not mindblowingly good. But it's great to know that you really do not need neither butter nor eggs to make a decent cake. (When I have no kind eggs available I shy away from using eggs completely.)

Do you have a favourite vegan cake recipe?

meerkats and cats

Stumbled over a fascinating, adorable documentary about meerkats - a long-term field study about meerkats in their natural habitat in the Kalahari desert. About the intriguing cooperative nature of meerkats and its ecological causes and evolutionary consequences. It wasn't the whole Meerkat Manor-series but a summation of sorts - and I wasn't the only one who was mesmerized. 

From Once upon a time-watching to documentaries. Me and the felines, two peas in the same television taste-pod (if there ever was such a thing).

bobbaloos dream of travelling

Got the smallsized woollies a size befitting terrestrial globe recently. Ever since then they've been mesmerized by the prospect of travelling. Especially the ones who still haven't been abroad (since they arrived in Sweden). Somehow the fika experiences and such aren't really enough, not even for a bobbaloo.

Unfortunately there are no abroad travel plans in a near future at the moment -

and the fact that I actually do not feel a bit sad about that makes me feel all grown up somehow and also confirms that I am just where I should be in my life right now. Yes I'm still waiting for things to fall in place in certain areas, but overall I feel content, confident and expectant. It's indeed a lovely trio of feelings.

Once again, 2013 has brought so much awesomeness (after the initial and unexpected grief...) and I can't but embrace it and feel grateful for being here and now. Travelling to old and new places are of course most always wonderful and enlightening, but the here and now at home is the perfect place for my heart at this moment in time -

so the bobbaloos will have to settle for dreaming. And fika. For now.

happy december

november went by in no time. it was a busy month, to be honest i'm not sure what i did (unless i check my calendar of course). but i know there was work and i met a lot of good people, old and new. the weather was incredibly glum and i felt more tired than inspired. but it was an alright month, more than alright really.

that said i'm looking forward to december, because in no time there'll be january and next year will be even better than this one. of that i'm sure.

and december will hold lots of lights, good meetings, good people and good work. and saffron buns. sunny buns. home-baked and bakery-bought.

i hope your december will be sunny, 

saffrony and joyous, 

have a lovely last month of 2013 ~